1998 renault clio (phase 2) project <the girlfriends car>
 

when i first joined here, my girlfriend was very skeptical..

A couple of months later, and she's genuinely interested in the capabilities of her car as an eco daily.
She currently commutes 250miles a week (although that will drop shortly)

I've been giving her some basic hypermiling tips, and put the tyres up to 34psi

Last tank (the first we logged) it's pulled 516.3 miles from 9.66 gallons uk.

That gives it 53.45 uk mpg-plenty above the published figures of 44!

watch this space for developments-as always, all suggestions are most welcome:-)

Do you realise she might embarrass you ? :D

Hypermiler on the first try (that's 21.5% over !)

I sure do:-)

My personal best is 29% over in the avensis(now returned to my father) that was easy as its dull to drive.. This turbo saab is proving to be a more interesting proposition..

I really hope she can get great figures-currently she saves £10 per tank against published mpg, so every 5 anks covers the cost of servicing the car!

or the money saved by us both could be used for short breaks away, allowing her to indulge in photography-its all about how you sell the concept!

it does help though that she has geek genes that can be appealed to!

how's that volvo of yours going? We're lucky as not doing much town driving..

Sounds like the perfect woman :D

What engine does the Clio have? And is she open to visable aeromods (skirts, Kammbacks, etc.)? And is there any chance she'll also become a member, or have you volunteered for all the dirty work?

Well duh!! I doubt 320t would settle for anything less.

the clio has a 1149cc 8v with a knee trembling 60bhp..

5speed box though, and geared ok:-)

I dunno re mods-hoping to look at low visual impact mods first.. She's doin well regarding driving techniques

She can join if she wishes, but i have the only phone that does internet:-)

As for 'perfect woman'

My grandfather told me aged 10 'if it has tits or tyres it'll be trouble..'

He was right:-)

We're getting there, slowly ;)
Slower than I'd hoped for though.

That helps a lot.
I try to avoid town driving like the plague.
But going around means accelerating to higher speeds, and lights that aren't timed.

I'm luky as my route to work is aminly roundabouts- fairly easy to time,

even when i move I'll still have mainly motorway and few lights- there have to be some benefits to living in Scotland-this is the first one I've found.

The Clio is getting serviced at the weekend-thime to get it just how I'd like it to be!

Edinburgh doesn't have these advantages - loads of lights, loads of queues and very irate drivers. Me included :(

And no, there isn't a public transport alternative.

It is frustrating though - I can get up to 67 or even 70+ showing on the SG when I leave the bypass, and its down to 55 when I get home. I can't stop the engine as it is all crawl, stop, crawl, stop.

Anyway rant over. :D

don't cruise much beyond 3500rpm they start to drink! mine ran 50-51mpg (uk) @70mph but @75 it was down to the mid 40's